Our economy is on the move. That means weāre going to be reading a lot about foodservice employment and labor issues in the coming years. Be prepared for a raft of stories about employee shortages and the dire implications it will have for our industry.
Some industry giants are already anticipating the worst: Carlās Jr. and Hardeeās are making noises about going āemployee freeā and McDonaldās is trying to sell entrĆ©es through vending machines.
I advocate a different approach. Letās assess our environment logically and determine whatās working with employees now and how itās changed over the past few years. Itās certainly true that more opportunities are available in the marketplace and some people are heading toward higher-paying jobs.
BUT …
Not every foodservice operator is experiencing an employee-finding or employee-keeping crisis. The operations that are continuing to thrive have accepted that holding on to internal customers takes just as much attention as keeping external customers.
Think of the way you approach your food menu. It has to be diverse, with a blend of favorites and exciting new ideas. And it has to be periodically reworked and improved to match the changing tastes and expectations of your external customers.
Practice adaptive leadership
Itās just as important to adapt your leadership style to meet the evolving concerns of your employees. What worked today wonāt necessarily work tomorrow. But the good news is that there are certain universal needs at the foundation of every employee desire, demand and complaint, from the back of the kitchen to the corner office. I call these needs āThe Biggies.ā
The way you address these needs may vary as you deal with different economic conditions and age groups, but they should always be top of mind when youāre strategizing recruitment and retention strategies.
The Biggies are all under your controlāand theyāre likely what you want from your job as well, so youāve got a leg up in translating them into effective policies.
Employees want to be:
Paid. Keep in mind that money is ultimately a ādissatisfierā because anyone can always find a higher-paying job if thatās all theyāre looking for. (It rarely is.) Compensation doesnāt have to be superior but it has to be competitive. The best way to determine prevailing local rates is via chambers of commerce, the internet and surveys.
Valued. Being valued equates to feeling youāre an essential part of the employment partnership. The employer provides the job, the employees provide their skills; itās a mutually beneficial relationship.
Trusted. The best example I can provide on how to earn and keep trust was given to me by one of my first mentors many years ago. āKenny,ā she said, āalways remember, if a dog will bring you a bone, heāll take one away.ā That means you should talk about my work only with me. Donāt talk about my work to someone else or talk to me about someone elseās quality of work. That will destroy trustāand loss of trust is No.1 in Patrick Lencioniās book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.
Promoted. This isnāt about giving me a new job; itās about letting others know your positive thoughts about me.
Appreciated. Saying āgood jobā is never enough. Tell me exactly what I did and why it mattered. Great affirmation must be positive, timely, concise, vivid and descriptive. āMike, you rocked our world today; pitching in to help plate dishes when he was falling behind prevented a disaster.ā
Mentored. People who consider themselves happy in their roles can almost inevitably point back to a boss or two who took a special interest in them and showed them the ropes.
Involved. While it isnāt appropriate to share everything with everyone, it is always appropriate to ask people for their opinion on issues that concern their role. The best improvement suggestions always come from those doing the job. Itās hard for any of us to complain about an idea that was ours. Feeling involved extends beyond your four walls: Choose a charity, form a committee, raise dollars, give time; itās a great camaraderie-building experience.
Challenged. Think about this in bigger terms than goals and contests. Imagine how powerful it is to be asked to help make the entire operation better. It opens a world of possibilities for you and your employee.
On a mission. Missions have to be repeatedāoften. Pre-shift and post-shift meetings are about focusing the team on what needs to be done and motivating them to accomplish it.
Empowered. Knowing that I donāt need to go to my manager for every decision builds my self-esteem.
Let others worry about potential labor shortages. Focusing proper attention on The Biggies is a much more productive use of your time. Youāll establish a reputation as an employer of choice, and that will serve you well in any labor condition.